Tag Archives: personalgrowth

When it comes to improving yourself as an individual, having as many resources available in your artillery is crucial. You can’trely on one blog, one podcast or one book. You need to branch out and look for as many options as you can. Each resource you find provides a different perspective, voice, and atmosphere. One blog may suit you better than another, but it’s important to always be on the lookout for new content that can help you achieve the best “you.”

Below, I list a couple of blogs that are similar to the Self Starter Guide and can be helpful in your development!

My site inspiration and design were attributed to Tiny Buddha. I love the zen-like feel and the Buddhism involved with this site. It has a huge community and a lot of assorted topics to sort through and read.

This is the first real blog that I read and it set me off on the path I am now. It was very inspirational when I first stumbled upon it and Leo Baubata’s words still hold true to this day. I highly recommend this blog

I always get this blog confused with Lifehacker! Don’t get mixed up. Life hack is an amazing resource for anyone looking to inspire more creativity in their soul and wanting to find ways to improve their life. Their list of blog posts is very similar to what Self Starter offers.

Along with having a great blog title, Pick The Brain is another productivity blog that can help you get started on your goals. It’ll provide you with a multitude of suggestions that can get you to become better at living life.

I find Brain Pickings to have very in-depth articles that are meant to motivate you. There are a lot of historical references, intelligent discussions, and is geared towards those of us who like to write. It feels like I am getting a history lesson every time I’m on this site and get a more concrete look at the habits of people who’ve lived in the past! Check it out.

Dumb Little Man focuses on getting you to not give up. It is a blog set up to inspire people to continue working hard towards their passion and not be swayed by all the emotional junk we feel during the process. If you find yourself struggling to continue on towards your dream, take the time to read an article or two on this site.

So Smart Passive Income is not necessarily a productivity or self-development blog. It is meant for business oriented men and women or those of us aspiring to be entrepreneurs. Pat Flynn has helped many to achieve their business dreams and provide valuable step by step advice on how to do so.

This blog focuses more on the happenings in our mind. We live in a crazy world and sometimes navigating through our stresses and insecurities can bring a lot to our minds. Think Simple Now allows me to relax and not fret about everything going on in my life. It helps stabilizes my mind so I can become a stronger and better individual.

If you are looking for an arrangement of blog topics ranging from self-help to motivational messages and improving yourself, then the Change Blog might be for you. There are articles that are meant to keep you grounded and develop yourself into a magnificent being.

I love this play on word that Inspiyr has come up with. It’s simple, unique and from the blog title, you know what the blog is meant to do. I love the daily quotes at the top of their site and they have an amazing logo. Along with this, the content on the page will do wonders for your mind.

There is no substitute for a genuine smile. It lightens up your appearance and makes you look more approachable.

Not everybody is blessed with perfect looks but that does not mean you should not pay attention to proper grooming. We live in a world where people pay special attention to appearance. Surely, you can’t expect somebody to give you a job if you have dark circles and bags under your eyes with a shabby hairdo. There are an overwhelming number of products you can use to improve your appearance but here are a few simple tips that will help you look better and hence feel good about yourself:

Get a Good Haircut

You can’t spend all your time trying to tame your locks. Invest in a good haircut. Make sure you regularly get your hair trimmed. A shabby hairdo can prevent people from taking you seriously. A good haircut is an investment worth making as it will allow you to look your best in every outfit so you do not have to spend all your time contemplating what to wear.

Pay Attention to the Basics

You do not have to spend hundreds of dollars worth of cosmetics or procedures to look your best. Simply follow the basic rules of personal hygiene. Your smile is an important asset so it is important you take care of your teeth, brush your teeth and floss regularly. Also take care of body odor and make sure your clothes are clean and pressed before you put them on.

Get Enough Sleep

Nobody likes dark circles and having to deal with bags under their eyes. Studies show not getting adequate amounts of sleep can speed and reveal signs of aging. Make sure you get at least 7 to 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Getting enough sleep will not only improve your appearance but also help you stay active throughout the day, which means you can be more productive.

Eat Healthy

Snacking on greasy and oily junk food all day can cause great damage not only to your health but also to your appearance. Junk food can not only cause acne but also lead to obesity. Fill yourself up with healthy fruits and vegetables and stay away from processed foods as much as you can.

Focus On Your Best Features

All of us are born with a certain attractive physical feature. It could be a smile or lustrous hair. Once you have discovered what your best feature is, make the best out of it to improve your overall appearance. If you hair is your best feature, take the time to brush and clean it so it stays shiny and silky. If it is your smile, make sure you brush your teeth and floss regularly to maintain your pearly whites. The main idea is to attract attention to your best feature so it overshadows the less flattering ones.

Smile

There is no substitute for a genuine smile. It lightens up your appearance and makes you look more approachable. A bright smile will not only improve your appearance but will lift up your spirits and help you feel better about yourself.

Challenge yourself and work towards becoming a better person. Set targets for yourself and stop comparing yourself to others as it will only hinder your growth and stop you from making progress.

It’s easy to fall down the envy trap and start comparing yourself to others, especially when you are on Facebook and Instagram the whole day. You can’t help but feel jealous by how well your friends are doing. Comparing yourself to others is a dangerous habit that can often hinder your personal growth and allow the seeds of self-doubt to grow. Comparing yourself to others often leads to depression, low productivity and low self-esteem. Here’s why you need to stop comparing yourself to others:

Not Everything Is As Glossy As It Appears

Social media allows us to project a more positive side of our lives. Your friend may post about getting their book published but they would never reveal the number of rejections they had to face before signing the deal. Perfection is just an illusion people like to portray so they can feel good about themselves so be vary of people who seem to be too happy. Not everything is as glossy as it appears. Sometimes the people you are comparing yourself to are just as lost as you are. The only difference is they are able to conceal their self-doubt and insecurities better than you.

Comparison Is Unfair

Not everybody is born with the same advantages. Some people are more talented than others while others are born wealthier than others. Understand that the only person you should be comparing yourself to is yourself. Challenge yourself and work towards becoming a better person. Set targets for yourself and stop comparing yourself to others as it will only hinder your growth and stop you from making progress.

It’s a Waste of Time

How many hours have you spent sulking over the fact your colleague managed to get a promotion instead of you?Have you ever considered that perhaps they might have been working harder than you and actually deserved it? Stop wasting your time comparing yourself to others when you could be utilizing your time doing something better. If you are worried about what others are doing, you will have less time to make improvements yourself. Use your time productively instead of sulking over negative thoughts.

It Damages Your Self-esteem

Confidence and high self-esteem play a crucial role in helping you achieve your dreams. Comparing yourself to others can easily zap motivation and hamper your self-esteem. Comparing yourself to others will not only help you accomplish your goals. In addition, it will cause you to further lag behind in the race. Stop looking around here and there and focus on what is in front of you. If you continue to ponder over your shortcomings, you can easily damage your self esteem.

Hinders Chances of Improvement

If you are busy comparing yourself to people who are ‘beneath’ you, you are in for some big trouble. People who belittle others spend little time on improving themselves. Pay attention to critical feedback and don’t become egotistical. Adopt a humble attitude so you can progress at work, home and in all other areas of your life.

The people who truly care about you will stand by you no matter what. A vital support system is important for your healing. Do not be afraid to ask for help when you truly need it.

Life is wonderful and full of fascinating opportunities that are just ready to knock on your door at any given moment. However, while some days are happy and carefree, other days can be sad and depressing. It can be difficult to find reason to be optimistic when you are engulfed by grief. It is possible that you are suffering from a financial crisis or a personal loss. Either way, depression has become a major problem that not only affects adults and teenagers but children as well. No matter how hard life gets, you need to find a way to pick yourself up and move on with your life. Here’s how you can do so:

Express Yourself

It is important you find a way to channel all your emotions so they are no longer trapped inside you. Creating art and writing are a few ways in which you can express yourselves. Some people like to cook. Cooking is also a form of art. Preparing healthy food can prove therapeutic. No matter how you choose to express yourself, you will experience a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment afterwards. Keeping yourself busy in activities that offer therapeutic benefits and comforts your soul will inspire a part of you that previously felt lifeless, enabling you to get through the tough times.

Surround Yourself with the People You Love

Normally when we are going through a rough patch, we tend to isolate our friends and family from our lives. It is important you seek comfort from your family and friends. The people who truly care about you will stand by you no matter what. A vital support system is important for your healing. Do not be afraid to ask for help when you truly need it. If some of your friends have bailed out on you during tough times, consider it as a blessing. Why waste your time on somebody who doesn’t care about you?

Try To Look At the Bigger Picture

When going through a rough time at school, you might think things would always remain the same. Life is much bigger than all of us and it is continuously evolving. When we are depressed, it is easy to just focus on the negatives. Keep looking towards the future. You have your whole life in front of you like a blank piece of paper. Only you have the power to write what you want on it and your life will follow.

Travel

Sometimes all you need is a fresh perspective. Pack your bags and head out to explore the world. You will be surprised to see when placed against the magnificence of the world, your problems will start to seem small. You do not need an air ticket to travel. If you are on a tight budget, go camping with your friends or take the time out to look at the stars with the person you love, swim with the fish, or spend more time outdoors. Connect yourself with nature and you will be surprised by how fast your spirits rise.

Your positive outlook in life can drastically change the kind of decisions you make.

Sometimes, a little optimism is just what we need to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Believe it or not, but being optimistic is a choice you make. Every morning when you wake up, you have the chance to turn things around and charge into a new day. If you choose to stay in bed and ponder over all the problems in your life instead of making up the courage to face them, you will be in for a gloomy day. Your positive outlook in life can drastically change the kind of decisions you make. Keep in mind your struggles are only temporary and the challenges you are facing will only help you learn important lessons in life. Here are some benefits of being optimistic:

Allows You to Enjoy the Little Things in Life

Have you ever taken a close look at your surroundings? There are so many simple yet beautiful things around you that often go unnoticed because you are always focusing on what is wrong. Unfortunately, many people have gotten used to the habit of looking at the negative side of every situation. Open your eyes and allow yourself to witness the wondrous little joys that nature offers. When was the last time you noticed the laughter of a child or took the time to just watch the clouds go by? Life is beautiful. You just have to be able to see it.

Key to Success

What do you think would have become of Einstein if he had given up on the light bulb? Some of the world’s greatest inventors and brilliant minds had to go through unimaginable struggles. If they had just given up on themselves and listened to all the negative things everybody had to say about them, then they would have never been successful, never mind famous. Optimism is your key to success. Know that your efforts will bear fruits and every challenge will just bring you closer to your goal. If there is something you want in life, do not let anybody bring you down. Always choose to look at the brighter side. It will help you reach unimaginable heights.

Positive Thinking Attracts Positive Events

Ever heard of the ‘law of attraction’? Well, the basic principle is ‘like attracts like’. Believe it or not, but your thoughts have the ability to materialize into things. If you want good things in life, you need to have a more positive approach. Think of all the great things you can attract in your life just by positive thinking.

Better Health

Negative thinking can trigger stress and be the cause of multiple health problems. Studies have shown optimistic people are better at maintaining their health and combating stress. Constant anxiety and stress can lower your chances of having a peaceful night’s sleep that is incredibly beneficial for your physical and mental wellbeing. In other words, being optimistic all the time will help you live longer and enjoy a better quality of life as well, which will benefit you both in your personal and professional life.

There are so many things happening all around you and it seems like your life is a never ending cycle of happiness and sadness.

The concept of self-development came to me a few years ago when I started questioning my career. I felt like I was going in circles and not developing myself enough. I found self-development and that started my interest in bettering myself as a person. I personally think everyone should invest in self-development because making yourself the best person possible can only do wonders for your life. Should you invest? Consider these 10 signs you should invest in self-development.

1. You Feel Lost

You don’t know what you are doing with your life. You don’t know if you are headed in the right direction. There are so many things happening all around you and it seems like your life is a never ending cycle of happiness and sadness. You want to maintain happiness in any way possible but can’t do that because you don’t know where to go next.

2. You’re Always Down On Yourself

It’s true that the toughest critic is our own selves. You think that everything you do is wrong. People are always better than you and it feels like you are always on the wrong end of the battle. You think everything would be better if you didn’t have a hand in it, because, ultimately, you think you’ll screw it up. You can’t make anything goes right.

3. You Want To Feel Motivated

Things have got to change! You personally know it. You know things have to get done, but you are just sitting around playing video games or watching TV. You know this 100% in your mind, but you don’t act on it. There’s no incentive or nothing pushing you to make things happen. This makes you sad and you want to beat procrastination once and for all.

4. You Want To Inspire Others

A part of you has that innate desire to help. You want to see people succeed and bask in the amazing moments in life when things go right. You want to see smiles and others doing what they were born to do. Who wants to see a person fail? No one. Inspiration is your motivation and you know that you can do it. But you don’t know where to start.

5. A Change In Career Is Necessary

You’ve been stuck in the same dull job day in and day out and it looks like nothing is changing anytime soon. You dread waking up and being at a place that just isn’t fun at all. There are other interests out there that intrigue you but the risk causes you to hesitate. Self-development can give you the boost you need to take small action steps towards your dreams. Are you willing to commit?

6. Getting Healthier Is Your Priority

It’s easy to understand the rules to become a healthier person. Eat well, Sleep Enough, and Don’t Stress. But sometimes it is hard to follow these rules. You want reasons to get healthier and want to learn how to change your habits in order to achieve this goal. You know this is important but don’t know where to begin.

7. You’d Like To Become More Productive

You procrastinate way too much. Things need to get done and you are of the mindset that…you don’t need to do anything. This is frustrating! Why is it that we know there are tasks to be completed but we fail to hold ourselves to the standard I know we have. This has to change and you know it. You want to check things off your To-Do list with ease and make it happen.

8. Life Is Getting Boring

Again, you wake up each morning, go to work, eat, and then come home and sleep. You feel unfulfilled and things are not exciting anymore for you. Life is growing stale and you are unsure why. You want more excitement in your life and a sense of adventure. You don’t want to grow up and not be excited to work on something that you’re passionate about. You want the feeling of exhilaration. By investing in self-development, it will come.

9. You Don’t Know What To Do Next In Life

A sign that you should invest in self-development is that the next action step is unclear to you. The end goal is apparent, but the steps to get there are a little murky. There’s always something that clouding your vision and you want to make it clearer. You want to have a series of steps to follow that will, day by day, get you closer. It can happen. You know it. But a little guidance would be helpful.

10. Because You Want To

Ultimately, you should invest in self-development if you want to. You know the impact that following good habits; listening to helpful tips, and being inspired every day can do for you. You ultimately want to succeed at life and you can only do this if you read about self-development and immerse yourself in it. You have what it takes to make this happen and now it is up to you to finally put a plan into place. What are you going to do next? Let’s begin now.

Being self-aware of how you are feeling is a very important process to developing yourself as an individual.

I come from a family that has a huge problem with controlling their temper. The way we resolved a situation was to scream and shout at one another. It was a sign of love. But rather than get anything solved, we end up fueling the fire and getting ourselves worked up over things that were non-trivial. As you make your way through life, you will run into circumstances that are out of your control and all you want to do is to throw a fit and rage. It is important to channel this built-up anger and make sure you learn how to contain it and not let the world see the Hulk in you.

Be Mindful Of Your Anger

When you are angry, practice the art of being mindful. This means that you become fully aware of when you are angry and how you are feeling. You notice that you want to lash out or show your emotions but know that it is better not to. Being self-aware of how you are feeling is a very important process to developing yourself as an individual. Without being mindful of your emotions, you can run into a situation where you may end up doing or saying something you ultimately will regret. Becoming mindful of your anger gives you control over the situation and ultimately more power.

Learn To Meditate

If you have a tough time with being mindful then meditation is the key to helping you. Meditation gives you practice in calming your mind and taking things one step at a time. It clears your mind of all your negative thoughts and helps you to learn how to be present with everything in life. Without meditation to guide you, you can feel lost at times. Meditation is a stepping stone to becoming fully mindful and help you with all the anger that is built up inside of you.

Address the Issues

After your anger has subsided, take the time to address the issues that were bothering you. What was it that made you upset and why did it trigger your emotions? Think about the reasoning behind feeling such way and it’ll help pinpoint your personal pet peeves and frustrations. Knowing what your weaknesses are is incredibly useful to developing yourself. We can sometimes go through life, face our weakness, but never really become determined to defeat them. We just let things slide by. When you are angry, you are discovering things about yourself that needs to be controlled better. Be sure to analyze this by writing down your thoughts, confronting them and making a sincere effort to not feel that way again.

Anger is dangerous. It can be the end to any relationships you have, regardless of how strong the bond is. Anger destroys trust and ignores our sensible side. Make an earnest effort and a promise to yourself that you will not let anger win in your mind. Use the tools of meditation, mindfulness and confronting your thoughts to help combat all the emotions you feel. Calm your mind and see your life improve.

People are more receptive upon seeing a smile on another person’s face.

Smiling makes you happy. Simple as that. It is an act that is so underrated in our society. We all go through difficult periods in our lives when things don’t turn out the way we want. As a result, we mope and feel sorry for ourselves. We expect empathy and compassion from others who are not going through the same pain as us. But it is up to us to determine how much we want to feel this pain. If you are someone who doesn’t want to be bogged down by your sadness, then be determined to put a smile on your face and see your day change.

The act of smiling requires very little effort. It uses fewer muscles in your face than it does to frown. At the same time, this act sends out mixed signals to your brain, especially when you are feeling down and out. Smiling sends happy thoughts and changes your mood for the better.

People are more receptive upon seeing a smile on another person’s face. Do you want to approach someone who looks like they are angry and sad? No, right? That’s because we do not want to be dragged down to that emotional state either. Most people want to be around people who seem bright and love their life. They want to experience happiness and excitement for their lives. Seeing someone with a smile encourages them to put a smile on their face as well. We understand that the act of smiling makes you happy and if we witness someone else do it, then we become more willing to open ourselves up to happiness.

Telling someone to put a smile on their face can be great advice when you are trying to console an individual. People should obviously be free to express their emotions in any way they prefer but after a while, you should encourage them to smile. People do not want to stay in a sad emotional state for the rest of their day. They need something to brighten them up. A smile can do that. Encourage them to turn that frown upside down, but don’t force them to if they are not at the right point yet. But inform them that it can make all the difference in how they’re feeling and can be the starting point to turning their day around.

We often underestimate the power of a simple act like smiling. Bad days can be reversed and life just seems much more enjoyable when you are around a group of people who likes to smile. Smiling makes you happy and that is what most people want in their life. Happiness. So if you find yourself down and out, make it a priority to smile and see your day change for the better.

We all face a new battle each day in our lives. We encounter problems that plague us and it may seem at times that the tide is against us and we will lose. I tell people that life can be challenging when we are faced with unforeseen situations and hope seems lost. It is important to know that regardless of any adversity you need to overcome, you have to endure. Keep going and don’t give up.

Understand what you have in life

Get yourself to endure by realizing you have a lot to embrace in life and to be content with it. Maintaining gratitude is important because you will feel like you are the luckiest person in the world with everything you have. It’s as if you always have a glimmer of hope shining on your side. Someone out there is looking out for you because first and foremost, you are alive. You are breathing. That is a miracle. Understand the significance of this and I hope that it will bring you peace in your troubles.

Find your passion

A lot of people can’t endure life because they feel a lack of purpose. Get yourself to endure by putting your efforts into finding a passion that you care about. Find things that make you happy. It doesn’t have to be a career but if you can turn your passion into a career, then even better. Ultimately do stuff in life that makes you feel alive. I find myself waking up happy when I know that there is a lot I can do in the upcoming days that will make me smile. If you find yourself moping around then it can be a sign that you’re lacking passion and it is your duty to re-ignite it.

Surround yourself with love

There is so much love around you. There will be people that care for you and be there for you during times of need. You may feel like anyone cares about you, but I don’t want you to believe in that lie. Call up people you know and tell them that you love and care about them. Surround yourself with your friends and share your struggles and ask for advice. People are willing to lend an ear to others in need. Love ispowerful and the more you have it, the easier it will be to get yourself to endure.

Never give up. That is the key with everything. Life can be emotionally draining regardless of how successful or poor you may be. But if you can get yourself to endure, you will find that you have a lot to live for. People don’t realize what they have in their life and we often compare ourselves to others and feel we are lacking. But if you can get yourself to come to terms with all the miracles and opportunities you have in life, then I guarantee that your life will improve for the better.

Follow Us!

Who is Self-Starter Anh?

My name is Anh Phan and I am a self-starter and life coach. I provide the tools you need to get things done. Join my community which encourages members to support each other in a positive manner. I can help you foster happiness in your life. I am revolutionizing what it means to be productive and content with what we already have. Let me help you become a self-starter! Read more here